Osteospermum plant named &#39;daostyve&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘DAOSTYVE’, characterized by its vigorous growth, with globular upright to spreading shape; well branching (4-6 per plant) habit, with stiff and strong lateral stems and thick leaves, color of leaves RHS 139A (upper side), RHS 137B (underside); ray florets with a unique color combination, purple (RHS 75B) with white tip and base at the upper side, and white with gray stripes (RHS; 188B) and stains of yellow (RHS 162C) at the tip, on the underside; and disc florets that appear grayed green (RHS 188B).

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Osteospermum ecklonis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DAOSTYVE’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) TNorl., commonly known as Cape Daisy and and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘DAOSTYVE’.

The new Osteospermum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Rune Nielsen, in Stige, Denmark. Theobjective of the breeding program is to develop a new Osteospermumcultivar with good garden performance, well branching growth, continuousflowering and an attractive inflorescence color.

The new Osteospermum cultivar originated from a cross made in acontrolled breeding program by the inventor in 2007, in Stige, Denmark.The female or seed parent is Osteospermum variety designated 2045F (notpatented). The male or pollen parent is a creme coloured Osteospermumvariety designated 2010A (not patented).

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum cultivar by terminalcuttings was first performed in November, 2008 in Stige, Denmark, andhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘DAOSTYVE’, which in combinationdistinguish this Osteospermum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Vigorous cultivar, with globular upright to spreading shape;

2. Well branching (4-6 per plant) with stiff and strong lateral stemsand thick leaves. Color of leaves RHS 139A (upper side) RHS 137B(Underside);

3. Ray florets with a unique color combination, purple (RHS 75B) withwhite tip and base at the upper side, and white with gray stripes (RHS188B) and stains of yellow (RHS 162C) at the tip, on the underside; and

4. Disc florets that appear grayed green (RHS 188B).

Plants of the new Osteospermum ‘DAOSTYVE’ differ from plants of theparents, 2045F (unpatented) and 2010A (unpatented) in the traitsdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Varieties New Cultivar Female ParentMale Parent 2045F 2010A Trait ‘DAOSTYVE’ (unpatented) (unpatented) PlantSize Height: About 14 cm. About 12 cm. About 11 cm. Diameter: About 17cm. About 16 cm. About 15 cm. Overall Plant Globular, upright Globular,upright Globular, upright Shape: to spreading, with to spreading, withto spreading, with basal branching. basal branching. basal branching.Stem Length: About 6 cm. About 7 cm. About 5 cm Diameter: About 5 mmAbout 3 mm. About 5 mm. Strength: Stiff and strong. Medium strong. Stiffand strong. Color: RHS 146D RHS 144A RHS 146D (yellow-green).(yellow-green) (yellow-green). Number of About 28. About 30. About 20.Inflorescence heads per Plant: Flower Size Diameter: About 7.5 cm. About7 cm. About 8 cm. Mature Petal RHS 75B RHS 73A(red- RHS N81C Color(purple) with purple), with (purple-violet) (upper surface): white tipand stripes of RHS with stripes of base. 75B (purple). RHS 76C N79A(purple) (purple) near base.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Osteospermum ‘DAOSTYVE’ is theOsteospermum cultivar ‘Cape Daisy® Zanzibar Pink’, in thecharacteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Comparison Varieties Comparison Cultivar NewCultivar ‘Cape Daisy ® Trait ‘DAOSTYVE’ Zanzibar Pink’ Plant SizeHeight: About 14 cm. About 9 cm. Diameter: About 17 cm. About 16 cm.Overall Plant Shape: Globular, upright to Globular, upright tospreading, with basal spreading, with basal branching. branching.Branches Length: About 6 cm. About 5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm About 4mm. Strength: Stiff and strong. Medium strength. Color: RHS 146D(yellow- RHS 145C (yellow- green). green). Number of About 28. About 30.Inflorescence heads per Plant: Flower Size Diameter: About 7.5 cm. About6 cm. Mature Petal Color RHS 75B (purple) with Outer half RHS N78D(Upper side): white tip and base. (purple), inner half White. MaturePetal Color White with stripes of RHS 83D (violet) (Underside): RHS 188B(greyed- with stripes of green) and stains of RHS 83B (violet). RHS 162C(greyed- yellow) at the tip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum ‘DAOSTYVE’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DAOSTYVE’.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of the composite flower head from‘DAOSTYVE’.

FIG. 2 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘DAOSTYVE’ in a 11 cm pot, at 12 weeks of age after planting.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical lateral stems with leavesand buds of ‘DAOSTYVE’.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the different leaf sizes of ‘DAOSTYVE’.

FIG. 5 shows a comparison between ‘2010A (male parent)’, ‘CAPE DAISY®Zanzibar Pink’ and ‘DAOSTYVE’, (Breeders reference: 6415A).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Osteospermum ‘DAOSTYVE’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Osteospermum‘DAOSTYVE’ as grown in a glasshouse, equipped with heat, assimilationlight and ebb/flood watering system in Odense, Denmark, under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.The plants was grown in 14° C., with a venting temperature on 16° C.Assimilation light was given when natural daylight was below 3000 luxand the day length was extended to 16 hours. The EC levels in the soil,was kept at about 2,5-3,5 and pH around 6,0 during the production. Plantgrowth was regulated 3 times during the production period, using 3%Cycocel (chlormequat-chloride) as a drench (80-100 ml/pot).

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), Colour Chart 2001 edition, Color values were taken underMarch daylight conditions at approximately 10:00-14:00 in Stige,Denmark. The age of the ‘DAOSTYVE’ plants described is 12 weeks frompotting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis (DC) Norl.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Osteospermum cultivar designated            2045F (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Osteospermum variety designated 2010A            (Unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative terminate cuttings.        -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—About 9 to 13 days            at 19 to 21° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Time and temperature to produce a rooted young plant.—About            4 to 5 weeks at 18° (initiation period benefits from 19-21°            C.).        -   Rooting habit.—Vigorous, white to grayed yellow and well            branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Globular, upright, with basal            branching. Inflorescences in composite heads. Freely            branching with lateral flowering branches forming at every            node.        -   Growth rate.—Growing about 1 cm per week during production            period.        -   Plant height.—About 12 cm to 16 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 15 cm to 18 cm.        -   Crop time to produce a mature flowering plant.—It requires            4-5 weeks to produce a young plant in a 35 mm propagation            plug. After potting 12-14 weeks are required to produce            finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 5 mm.        -   Strength.—Stiff and strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Color.—Mature: RHS 144A. Immature: RHS 144B.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Basal branching with lateral branching.        -   Number of branches per plant.—About 4-6.        -   Length (including flowers).—About 14 cm to 16 cm .        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Strength.—Stiff and strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to spreading.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Color.—Mature: RHS 144A. Immature: RHS 144B.        -   Internode length.—About 3 to 10 mm.        -   Internode color.—RHS 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Number of leaves per branch.—About 10 to 14 per branch.        -   Length.—About 4 cm to 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm to 3,5 cm.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Obovate to spatulate with 2 to 4            acuminate teeth on some of the leaves.        -   Shape at apex.—Obtuse.        -   Shape at base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire to dentate (2 lobes on each side of some of            the leafs).        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Pubescent with few scattered short,            stiff hairs. More hairs on the edges of leaf. Lower surface:            Pubescent with few scattered short, stiff hairs More hairs            along veins and on the edges of leaf.        -   Color of developing foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower            surface: RHS 138A.        -   Color of mature foliage.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower            surface: RHS 137B.        -   Venation pattern.—Trinerved with veins along nerves.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 145A. Lower surface: RHS            146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Arrangement and shape.—Tubular disc floret and flat,            lanceolate ray florets in composite flower heads, developed            from terminal and axillary shoots. The peduncles lift the            Inflorescences 2-4 cm above the foliage. Inflorescences face            upright to 80° angle from vertical.        -   Natural flowering season.—Osteospermum is a bedding plant,            with a flowering season from early spring to late autumn.            Temperatures below 20° C. will increase flowering,            temperatures above 20° C. will reduce flowering.        -   Time to flower.—65 to 85 days.        -   Inflorescence longevity on the plant.—Inflorescence will            maintain good color and substance for about 5-10 days;            however, the longevity of individual inflorescence is highly            dependent on temperature and light conditions. Inflorescence            persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences heads.—Freely flowering; about 30            buds and open inflorescences per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet, fresh and discreet.        -   Bud (Inflorescences head).—Rate of opening (from showing            color to fully open flower.—1 to 5 days. The rate of opening            is highly dependent on temperature and light conditions.            Length: About 12 mm. Diameter: About 10 mm. Shape:            Acuminate. Texture: Pubescent with small hairs. Color: RHS            144A at base to 139B at apex.        -   Peduncle.—From both terminate and axillary shoots Length:            About 7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 0-20° from            vertical. Strength: Stiff and strong Texture: Pubescent with            small white hairs Color: RHS 138A. Exposed to sun, small            stains of RHS 200A appear, and give the peduncle a reddish            look.        -   Inflorescence head.—Length: About 10 mm Diameter: About 7,5            cm.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per Inflorescence head: 17-22 Length:            35 mm Widths: 8-10 mm Overall shape: Spatulate Shape at            apex: Obtuse Shape at base: Acute Margin: Entire Texture:            Upper surface: smooth, matt, slightly furrowed Lower            surface: smooth, matt slightly furrowed. Color upper side:            RHS 75B with white tip and base. Color underside: RHS 188B,            with and stains of RHS 162C at the tip.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per Inflorescence head: 60-70.            Length: 6 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color White translucent, white            at base.        -   Phyllary.—15-20. Length: 9-11 mm. Width: 1-3 mm. Overall            shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrow Acuminate. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Color: RHS 139B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Disc florets only. Stamen number: 5            fused. Stamen length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Linear,            fused. Anther length: About 2 mm. Pollen amount: Medium            amount. Pollen color: RHS N25D.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Ray and disc florets Quantity: 1 Pistil            length: About 4 mm Stigma shape: Brush-like, cleft 1,5 mm            deep Stigma length: About 2 mm Stigma color: RHS 103A Style            length: About 2 mm Style color: RHS 103C Ovary color: RHS            144D.-   Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermum has not been observed.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: Susceptibility to pathogens and pests    common to Osteospermum has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have exhibited    good tolerance rain, wind and drought; however, flowering may cease    during hot periods (temperatures above 25° C.). Low temperature    tolerance to 1° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘DAOSTYVE’,as illustrated and described herein.